I've never understood why people do this. They drive around everyday with their plates showing but hide them online. What can someone do with a license plate number?
My 1997 SR5 5spd daily driver
- Thread starter flipty
- Start date
I've never understood why people do this. They drive around everyday with their plates showing but hide them online. What can someone do with a license plate number?
To be honest, damned near everything.
I've shored up my frame completely, and replaced all of the following parts related to stability and steering:
Rear shocks
Rear sway bar links and bushings
Rear upper and lower control arms
Front sway bar links
Front upper and lower ball joints
Inner and outer tie rods (x2)
However....the thing that made the biggest difference... BY FAR... was tires. Get good tires. I had tires that were manufactured in 2010. They looked great, the tread was totally fine... but they were wobbly as hell. I got some Michelin Defenders, and on the drive home from Discount Tire I couldn't believe the difference it made, and that was after I'd already replaced all of the rear components.
Keep in mind that 'on rails' is very relative. I'm talking about having a feel for the road, driving at any speed and on any road condition feels safe and predictable. If you want to more literally be on rails, obviously you have to be in a low sports car not a wobbly-even-when-new tall SUV
Now all that said, when I got my most recent frame repairs done, there was a noticeable decrease in the slight wobble/swerve I would get while shifting gears (mine is a 5-speed), especially the freeway shift from 4th to 5th.
I know I stated earlier in the thread that the control arms were the reason it felt stable. It DID help, but nothing helped as much as new tires.
alright thanks. Unfortunately it's not my tires. They are 2016's with prob 90% tread left. I've replaced my ITRE's and OTRE's, LBJ's, front sway bar links (because i broke them offroading) and poly bushings, poly steering rack bushings. It's still all over the road. It will actually jump sideways if i hit a bump on the highway. I'm hoping it's the steering column slip joint issue but i'm starting to wonder if my steering rack is toast. maybe doing the rear end would help.
I'm not expecting it to handle like a track car. just for comparison, I have a 91 Ford E-350 4x4 with a 4" lift and 33's, with leaf springs. It handles road driving better than my 4runner does. A lot better.
Yeah I know what you mean. That's how mine handled. Now it feels like a normal vehicle.
I really don't feel like you've got a front-end issue. My gut is telling me your issue is coming from the rear end. Check to see if you get less bounce/sway if you lay off the gas pedal while swerving after hitting a bump at speed. If so, chances are you're experiencing the rear axle being too-willing to rotate a bit, essentially becoming a 4-wheel-steering vehicle until it stabilizes. Rear upper and lower control arm/bushings, springs, and rear shocks are the only things that would really have a major role in that stability, I doubt the rear sway bar could be the culprit but those links and bushings are pretty easy to replace as well. There's also a rear panhard bar, but that's the only thing I never touched on mine to get the rear under control.
Also check your frame for rust/rot/holes too. If your frame is weakened by rot, which many of ours that aren't in the southwest are, the truck will flex in ways it's not supposed to at speed. If it's got rot issues you have two choices: scrap the thing or do some frame repairs. I've opted to do the repairs. Thus far I've paid a welder/fabricator $750 to completely shore up the frame and fully replace rotted areas. It makes a BIG BIG difference, and it's kept me from having to scrap it, and given me half a prayer of ever being able to re-sell it down the road.
As always, good luck!
Latest surgery: Starter. Did it yesterday in aboooout 7 hours. That includes breaks, but man is that not fun to do by yourself. Really would help to have 4 hand and 4 eyes.
When all is said and done, knowing what I know now I could do it again in 90 minutes. Hopefully I'll never have to.
A helpful hint that no one brought up in tutorials or youtubes: You can get the old one out and the new one in from the bottom relatively easily.
The old and the new:
I know I have an oil leak from the valve cover gasket so I need to do that or I'll probably be doing the starter again much sooner than anticipated.
When all is said and done, knowing what I know now I could do it again in 90 minutes. Hopefully I'll never have to.
A helpful hint that no one brought up in tutorials or youtubes: You can get the old one out and the new one in from the bottom relatively easily.
The old and the new:
I know I have an oil leak from the valve cover gasket so I need to do that or I'll probably be doing the starter again much sooner than anticipated.
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Loved it while I had it.
5 Speed Dave
New member
Wow Flipty, sorry to hear your knee is giving you trouble and won't let you use the clutch any more.
I would hate to have to give up my stick for an auto. Wish you the best, hope your knee gets better
and your 4Runner's new owner appreciates it.
I would hate to have to give up my stick for an auto. Wish you the best, hope your knee gets better
and your 4Runner's new owner appreciates it.
MN4runnerman
Senior Member
F in chat. Hope you find something you like! Maybe another project?
